Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., gave Mesquite veterans some good news during a town hall meeting at the rec center Wednesday evening, the last of three stops he made in Mesquite.

First, Horsford reported new Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald has signed off on paperwork to allow construction of an outpatient VA clinic in Pahrump. Work is expected to begin in September.

Additionally, Horsford said veterans who have been forced to wait for an appointment at the VA clinic in North Las Vegas will finally get some relief. Until the VA gets caught up with cases, any veteran who has been waiting six months or more for an appointment or who lives at least 40 miles away from the nearest VA clinic will be able to see a private doctor, paid for by the VA.

The congressman also reported he had visited the Central American children who are being held by American authorities after attempting to immigrate to the U.S..

“I believe this is an international issue,” he said, adding additional security at the border doesn’t address the root problem.

Horsford said most of the children coming into the country illegally are fleeing turmoil in the home countries and have family members in the U.S. If they do, they are put with their families until their cases are brought to court.

If they come without family, however, they are either put in community group homes or they remain in the detention centers on the border.

Horsford said Central Americans have a chance at staying in the U.S. if they are granted political asylum.

According to immihelp.com, political asylum can be granted to people who are already in the U.S. and are unable or unwilling to go back to their home country due to the act of or well-founded fear of persecution.

In the midst of the issue, Horsford said went down to the country’s border with Mexico to see it for himself.

“It was horrific,” he said.

The congressman encouraged residents to reach out to him and his team if they have questions regarding anything at the federal level.

Horsford has open office hours from 9 to 10:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of every month at the College of Southern Nevada Mesquite Campus, 140 N. Yucca St.